Recruiting dead periods is over, let the final push begin

There are now less than three weeks until National Signing Day and after a lull, things are about to heat up and quickly. The winter dead period ended at midnight on Wednesday and the final push for prospects is officially on. For WSU, that means an effort to add the finishing touches to an impressive class, while also holding onto the pieces currently committed.

As of today, WSU as the No. 29 recruiting class according to Rivals and Scout and the No. 31 class according to 247 Sports. Hold there and WSU will bring in one of the more highly-touted signing classes in school history. Holding, however, will be a challenge. With the dead period over, poaching season is back on. Current commitments Jonah Moi and Thomas Toki have official visits scheduled while others are drawing interest.

The Cougar coaches will hit the recruiting road hard in the coming days to try and keep what they have, while also adding to the class. That will now include new defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. Praised as an excellent recruiter, Grinch's skills will be put to the test quickly.

Let the melee begin. We'll see where the dust settles in three weeks.

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Football:

WSU hires Alex Grinch as defensive coordinator - Spokesman.com - Jan. 15, 2015
Alex Grinch will take over as the new defensive coordinator at Washington State and will try to make the Cougars’ defense as potent as its offense.

Grinch leaves Mizzou coaching staff for Washington State : Sports
Safeties coach Alex Grinch is leaving Missouri's football staff to become the defensive coordinator at Washington State, he confirmed in an email. Grinch will coach the WSU secondary.

Cougars Name Alex Grinch Defensive Coordinator - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Washington State University Head Football Coach Mike Leach announced Wednesday that Alex Grinch has been named WSU’s defensive coordinator and will coach the secondary.

Basketball:

Josh Hawkinson arrives ahead of schedule at WSU - Spokesman.com - Jan. 15, 2015
It wasn’t supposed to happen that quickly for Josh Hawkinson. The prevailing theory was that he would need at least a couple of more years to develop.

Seltzer to be Inducted into Pac-12 Hall of Honor - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Former Washington State University men’s basketball student-athlete, Bennie Seltzer, is one of 12 honorees that will be inducted into the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Hall of Honor as a part of the 2014-15 class, the conference announced Wednesday.